Brooks College uses Dean's Innovation Grant to support early-career faculty research

June 10, 2025 (Volume 48, Number 19)
Article by Michele Coffill

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Imagine a freedom seeker traveling from the South to flee enslavement in the mid-1800s. In Michigan, their journey using the Underground Railroad — from safe place to safe place — might lead them to the Detroit River, which has a mouth that is three miles wide.

Ramya Swayamprakash, assistant professor of interdisciplinary studies, said she initially didn't understand why so many freedom seekers used the mouth of the river to cross into Canada.

"I couldn't understand why they would choose to cross there, until you learn about the islands in the river," Swayamprakash said. "Often in the winter, there would be enough ice to go from island to island and cross the river that way."

It's these types of stories that Swayamprakash and Steven Nathaniel, assistant professor of interdisciplinary studies, are researching for their project that highlights freedom seekers and their use of Underground Railroad landscapes and infrastructure.

They received the Dean's Innovation Grant, funding provided to college deans from the Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence to accelerate external grant submissions and awards among faculty. The fund is managed by CSCE’s Office of Sponsored Programs.

Mark Schaub, dean of the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies, used the innovation grant to support early-career faculty and their scholarship.

"What faculty need most is time away from teaching and service to focus on their research projects," Schaub said. "This funding helps get them that. I’m confident that Brooks faculty will eventually be able to submit competitive applications to public and private funding sources, grants and foundations."

Nathaniel said he and Swayamprakash recognized similarities in their research several years ago when they were hired. They agreed to collaborate on what will eventually become a repository of stories centered on the transit and technology of the Underground Railroad. 

"There's a history of work on the Underground Railroad within Brooks College," Nathaniel said. "We are picking up that legacy and creating a humanistic way of interpreting technology through storytelling."

Nathaniel and Swayamprakash hope to launch their website later in the summer, using it as a springboard to apply for external grant applications to further the project.

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